HOT SPRINGS -- A Hot Springs man remained in custody without bail after the Garland County sheriff's office recovered, at the time of his arrest, a significant part of dynamite stolen from a construction site in Lonsdale, a sheriff's office news release said.
Jeremy Allen Bassford, 38, was also charged with a parole violation.
On March 27, 195 pounds of ammonium nitrate explosives and 83 sticks of Red Delite dynamite were reported stolen from a work site in Lonsdale. The person who reported the theft said the explosives were stolen sometime between Feb. 1 and March 27.
Some of the explosives were located two days later after sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a possible kidnapping at a residence on White Sulphur Road. A suspect at the scene identified as Shannon Dale Smith, 43, fled from deputies in his car, which he abandoned at the Red Roof Inn, 1125 E. Grand Ave., authorities said.
During an inventory of the car, sheriff's Sgt. Roy Williams located a bag in the back seat containing five sticks of dynamite. According to an affidavit, the sticks were banded together and fused in series.
Williams called for an Arkansas State Police bomb squad, and a technician identified the lot number of the dynamite and the brand name as Red Delite.
A passenger in the vehicle, Kandyce Renae Jones, 23, was arrested on five counts of criminal possession of explosives. Smith was later arrested and also charged with five counts of criminal possession of explosives.
According to the affidavit, Smith admitted that he bought the dynamite from Bassford. Investigator John Greathouse called Bassford on Friday, and he reportedly admitted to possessing the remaining explosives.
According to the affidavit, he stated, "I knew as soon as I got that box I'd be in trouble. I was just trying to turn a buck."
Bassford attempted to arrange for immunity in exchange for turning in the explosives to the Garland County sheriff's office. He was arrested Tuesday.
Bassford's mother, Belinda Ann Yosel, 58, was also taken into custody Tuesday and charged with hindering apprehension, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison.
According to the affidavit, Garland County sheriff's office investigators learned Monday that Bassford could be at the America's Best Value Inn and Suites in Malvern. The desk clerk said the room was rented by Yosel on Sunday.
Investigator Kenny Ford responded to the location and observed a man fitting Bassford's description fleeing the area.
On Tuesday, Arkansas Department of Correction agents conducted a traffic stop on Yosel's vehicle. Yosel stated she knew that Bassford was wanted by authorities.
State Desk on 04/10/2015